Deluge hits commuters hard, but not the dams

The umbrellas got a work-out this morning as sheets of rain
drenched commuters and caused delays on Sydney roads.

More than twice the average rainfall for September has fallen in
the first 10 days of the month, the Bureau of Meteorology said.

Senior meteorologist at the Sydney weather bureau Bob Moore said
150 millimetres had fallen so far this month. The average rainfall
for September is 68 millimetres - the same amount that fell in the
72 hours to 9am today.

"September is usually one of the driest months of the year on
average, but it's not always like that," Mr Moore said.

More showers are expected today, easing tomorrow and becoming
isolated later in the week.

Flooding disrupted morning traffic in some areas. The Roads and
Traffic Authority NSW reported flooding at Victoria Road in
Drummoyne, Beecroft Road in Cheltenham, The Crescent approaching
Victoria Road at Rozelle and Audley Weir at the Royal National
Park.

Some rain fell over the catchment, and this will be reflected
when dam level figures are updated on Thursday, Shannon O'Connell,
a communications project officer at the Sydney Catchment Authority,
said.

Last Thursday, the dams were holding 40.8 per cent of their
capacity. Warragamba, the largest dam in the catchment, was at 40.1
per cent.

"We are hoping for a slight increase," Mrs O'Connell said.

In the 24 hours to 8am yesterday, 7.3 millimetres of rain fell
at Warragamba.

The Upper Nepean recorded 37.9 millimetres, Woronora recorded
45.5 millimetres, 20.3 millimetres fell in the Shoalhaven and the
Blue Mountains received 17.1 millimetres.